Thailand faces lockdown if outbreak cannot be contained - PM

[webfact]

Thailand faces lockdown if outbreak cannot be contained - PM

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Thailand's prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has said that a countrywide lockdown could become inevitable if the current outbreak centered on Samut Prakan cannot be contained. 

 

He said that everyone should cooperate with the government and health authorities in containing the outbreak. A great number of the cases have been among migrant workers though the PM was at pains to point out that no blame was being apportioned. 

 

How the situation was handled from now would determine the extent of the lockdown. 

 

For now Samut Sakhon is in lockdown and particularly neighboring areas are on high alert. But cases have been reported further afield and the whole country is considering their stance with provincial governors who wield much power once again at the center of local decision making. 

 

Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) Taweesilp Visanuyothin said that the prime minister had instructed the health ministry to come up with proposals as a matter of urgency. 

 

Whether children can continue to go to school and what large events, if any, can go ahead as part of New Year celebrations are now matters that the authorities are discussing. Road cargo transport from Samut Sakhon is also facing restrictions.

 

Though currently decision making has been devolved should the situation warrant it, the country could see a second lockdown with further disastrous economic and social consequences. 

 

Source: Daily News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-12-22

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

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[Thaiwrath]

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

A great number of the cases have been among migrant workers though the PM was at pains to point out that no blame was being apportioned. 

 

 

Don't blame the migrants, blame the grubby officials taking money to sneak them in. 

[asiasurfer]

Although I understand if many young people are annoyed with lockdowns and curfews... For me personally, it's actually quite nice. Finally there is some quiet in my bl**dy moban. 

[darksidedog]

We have been incredibly fortunate up to this moment, and while the lockdown we had earlier in the year was unpleasant, it was nowhere near as extreme as some countries have been facing.

I sincerely hope they can contain this outbreak, but am already getting stocks in, in case it goes badly.

Cancelling events to prevent travel is sad, but until we see where this is headed, probably the right move. The New Year family ensembles with millions moving around through the period also has the potential for disaster of course.

[david555]

Better do it quick .... relaxing it later if not needed .., don't do like our western country's as ....

"soft surgeons make stinking wounds " in mind 

[4MyEgo]

[Dmaxdan]

13 minutes ago, asiasurfer said:

Although I understand if many young people are annoyed with lockdowns and curfews... For me personally, it's actually quite nice. Finally there is some quiet in my bl**dy moban. 

It is not about you though. The real losers are the people who' will not be able work and therefore can't pay their bills and feed their children. Another lockdown will be catastrophic for many Thais. 

 

If a lockdown is inevitable, then the way to go should be a tier system like in the UK.  

[kevin612]

The prime minister claims everything is under control. Don’t worry, everybody.

[Excel]

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thailand faces lockdown if outbreak cannot be contained - PM

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Thailand's prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has said that a countrywide lockdown could become inevitable if the current outbreak centered on Samut Prakan cannot be contained. 

 

He said that everyone should cooperate with the government and health authorities in containing the outbreak. A great number of the cases have been among migrant workers though the PM was at pains to point out that no blame was being apportioned. 

 

How the situation was handled from now would determine the extent of the lockdown. 

 

For now Samut Sakhon is in lockdown and particularly neighboring areas are on high alert. But cases have been reported further afield and the whole country is considering their stance with provincial governors who wield much power once again at the center of local decision making. 

 

Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) Taweesilp Visanuyothin said that the prime minister had instructed the health ministry to come up with proposals as a matter of urgency. 

 

Whether children can continue to go to school and what large events, if any, can go ahead as part of New Year celebrations are now matters that the authorities are discussing. Road cargo transport from Samut Sakhon is also facing restrictions.

 

Though currently decision making has been devolved should the situation warrant it, the country could see a second lockdown with further disastrous economic and social consequences. 

 

Source: Daily News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-12-22

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

And coincidently I suspect a new lockdown will start just prior to the planned protests due to start again in January.  

[PingRoundTheWorld]

Well, that wasn't expected at all....

 

Given that chances are high I will arrive in Thailand this weekend, what was the last lock down like? I remember there was a curfew, no nightlife, and random foreigners were busted throwing private parties - but were there more restrictions or could you at least go get food and supplies during the day?

 

We'll be in quarantine until mid-January anyway, but wondering what happens after...

[ThreeEyedRaven]

With the New Year fast approaching when many will travel there is a strong possibility that the stable door may be closed after the horse has bolted. 

[OneMoreFarang]

It looks like many people don't need an official lockdown. I just spoke to a restaurant manager. 50 cancellations for the next days...

[Snig27]

51 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

 

Don't blame the migrants, blame the grubby officials taking money to sneak them in. 

And the fact that they stripped the trained border patrol police from the Myanmar border over and over and moved them to Bangkok to deal with peaceful protests. Prayut should be held personally responsible for this. Beyond incompetent. 

[greenmonkey]

56 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

 

Don't blame the migrants, blame the grubby officials taking money to sneak them in. 

Exactly. Let's face it, the only way these illegal immigrants are getting in is because its a money spinner for someone in uniform. Will they be accountable - most likely not! Didn't some doctor living out there recently post a photo of people crossing the border illegally? And the response from the Immigration police was to threaten her with defamation for making the immigration police look bad!? Whole thing is a circus. I said it before - corruption and greed is a cancer in Thailand. Surely this will be too much for the people of Thailand to accept!? Most likely they will just accept it as the norm though.

[JHicks]

32 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

The real losers are the people who' will not be able work and therefore can't pay their bills and feed their children. Another lockdown will be catastrophic for many Thais.

I agree with you but if you don't take the chance to lock down early you risk a much longer and more painful lockdown later on.

 

I think it depends on what happens with the clusters outside Samut Sakhon. On yesterday's numbers there were 14 untraced cases. If they can do a track / trace / isolate job on those cases in the next few days we might be OK.

[ballpoint]

17 minutes ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Well, that wasn't expected at all....

 

Given that chances are high I will arrive in Thailand this weekend, what was the last lock down like? I remember there was a curfew, no nightlife, and random foreigners were busted throwing private parties - but were there more restrictions or could you at least go get food and supplies during the day?

 

We'll be in quarantine until mid-January anyway, but wondering what happens after...

Hotels, shopping centres, large shops and restaurants were closed.  Supermarkets remained open, but some goods were cordoned off.  Road blocks were set up in a number of provinces, though only on one occasion did I see them stopping all traffic and asking where you were going.  However, life pretty much carried on as normal in rural areas.

[Nout]

1 hour ago, Thaiwrath said:

 

Don't blame the migrants, blame the grubby officials taking money to sneak them in. 

Nobody is blaming migrants. That is your inference.

[JHicks]

2 minutes ago, ballpoint said:

Hotels, shopping centres, large shops and restaurants were closed.  Supermarkets remained open, but some goods were cordoned off.  Road blocks were set up in a number of provinces, though only on one occasion did I see them stopping all traffic and asking where you were going.  However, life pretty much carried on as normal in rural areas.

Thanks for that info. What about air travel between provinces? I get out of ASQ in Bangkok shortly and am supposed to be meeting someone I haven't seen for over a year down in Hat Yai. As another poster rightly said the lockdown decision is not about tourists or expats, but having come this far it'll be a blow not to be able to make the final leg of the journey.

[overherebc]

Lockdown yes, do it.

Booze ban no, don't do it.

[JHicks]

1 minute ago, Nout said:

Nobody is blaming migrants. That is [Thaiwrath's] inference.

They went so far out of their way on the news to say that they weren't blaming the migrants, and that the priority was to make sure they get the treatment they need whether they're here legally or illegally, that there must be an undercurrent of blame that they're trying to counter.

[Thaiwrath]

2 minutes ago, Nout said:

Nobody is blaming migrants. That is your inference.

 

"the PM was at pains to point out that no blame was being apportioned"

 

And you believe that, or any other rubbish that comes out of his mouth ?

I bet you believed his "There will be no coup" fateful spiel in 2014 !

[Dumbastheycome]

1 minute ago, JHicks said:

They went so far out of their way on the news to say that they weren't blaming the migrants, and that the priority was to make sure they get the treatment they need whether they're here legally or illegally, that there must be an undercurrent of blame that they're trying to counter.

Most likely so as not to discourage any "illegals" from presenting for testing.

[KhunKenAP]

If Prayut and his cronies are so worried, why did Singapore just receive their first COVID Vaccine shipment???

 

Thailand is still waiting until May. No money left?????

 

This morning over 40 countries have banned flights from the UK. No word from anyone in Thailand. Why not?????

 

Are they going to wait to close the barn door after all the horses have bolted again, or in this case in our pasture????

Edited December 22, 2020 by KhunKenAP

[ballpoint]

9 minutes ago, JHicks said:

Thanks for that info. What about air travel between provinces? I get out of ASQ in Bangkok shortly and am supposed to be meeting someone I haven't seen for over a year down in Hat Yai. As another poster rightly said the lockdown decision is not about tourists or expats, but having come this far it'll be a blow not to be able to make the final leg of the journey.

Domestic air travel also stopped from around March till May (just from memory.  Someone else may have more accurate dates).  Different airlines began flying again at different times, mainly based on the level of lockdown in arrival and destination provinces.

[JHicks]

8 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Most likely so as not to discourage any "illegals" from presenting for testing.

Yes that would make a lot of sense, although they did the absolute opposite with the returning Thais who crossed the border up north, banging on about punishment before they had tracked them all down. Hopefully a case of lesson learned.

[PingRoundTheWorld]

32 minutes ago, ballpoint said:

Hotels, shopping centres, large shops and restaurants were closed.  Supermarkets remained open, but some goods were cordoned off.  Road blocks were set up in a number of provinces, though only on one occasion did I see them stopping all traffic and asking where you were going.  However, life pretty much carried on as normal in rural areas.

I could live with that. What are the chances of condo gym and pool remaining open? I remember they closed those too for a while.

[overherebc]

4 minutes ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

I could live with that. What are the chances of condo gym and pool remaining open? I remember they closed those too for a while.

If they go for lockdown I can imagine gyms and pools being closed as well.????

[ballpoint]

4 minutes ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

I could live with that. What are the chances of condo gym and pool remaining open? I remember they closed those too for a while.

Yeah, they shut down too, but I don't know for how long.  I abandoned my condo in Bangkok for a few months beginning the end of February and spent the lockdown upcountry.  The pool and gym were open again when I returned in July.

[2long]

I hope that the government & provincial governors realise that pretty much all tourist-related businesses which haven't gone under yet are depending on being able to do business for the next 10 days. And those same people vote for those in charge. Not even to mention the BKK protestors.

If they stop businesses over the next 10 days, then they can expect civil war! And at the very least can expect huge payouts in financial aid, followed by tax hikes which would make them unpopular.

PLEASE DO NOT LOCKDOWN TOURIST AREAS! 

[John Drake]

1 hour ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Well, that wasn't expected at all....

 

Given that chances are high I will arrive in Thailand this weekend, what was the last lock down like? I remember there was a curfew, no nightlife, and random foreigners were busted throwing private parties - but were there more restrictions or could you at least go get food and supplies during the day?

 

We'll be in quarantine until mid-January anyway, but wondering what happens after...

 

It was actually fairly light. You could go to malls for Tops and other food stores, pharmacies, banks, and post offices. Restaurants sent food out on dispatch riders. 7 elevens were closed from 10 pm to 5 am. You had to sign in everywhere and do temp checks and wear a mask to get in places. The latter hasn't changed but it's a lot looser than it was. So, they'll probably tighten again. That's all for Bangkok. Apparently some of the rural areas went on like nothing was happening, from reports on TVF. Traffic was tremendously reduced and the air was cleaner. But if they do this again, it will finally push a lot of people over the edge into permanently lost jobs, bankruptcies, and other economic hardships which will make them desperate. Push people far enough and desperate people will take desperate actions to support themselves. Could get more violent with a spike in crime, unlike last time.